Magnetic casket seal assembly

ABSTRACT

A unique magnetic casket sealing assembly is provided which eliminates the need for conventional sealing and locking hardware. The assembly includes a plurality of permanent magnets affixed to the casket base and hinged lid components and positioned adjacent to the closure surfaces with a gasketlike tapered seal of resilient, deformable material mounted on the closure surface of the casket base. The permanent magnets each extend slightly beyond the planes of the rigid closure surfaces, such that a slight gap is maintained therebetween when the magnets engage each other, allowing the gasket to deformably flow within the gap to maintain a constant seal without the use of conventional hardware.

United States Patent 1191 Cude [ MAGNETIC CASKET SEALASSEMBLY [76]Inventor: Lelon Cude, 1725' North Saint Marys Street, San Antonio, Tex.

78212 v 221 Filed: July 19, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 163,770

52 US. c1 ..'27/17, 27/DIG. 1'

['51] Int. Cl. ..A17g 61/00 [58] Field of Search ..-27/l4, 16, 17, DIG.1;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,038,232 6/1962J wean;1.27/35 2,836,453 5/1958 Foley ..292/251.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS I 1,009,995 11/1965 'GreatBritain....'......292/251,s

'-839,0l9 4/1957 GreatBritain ..292/25l.5

, May 29, 1973 Primary E.xaminer-Lawrence W. Trapp Att0rneyClarence A.OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson [57 ABSTRACT A unique magnetic casketsealing assembly is provided which eliminates the need for conventionalsealing and locking hardware. The assembly includes a plu- .'rality ofpermanent magnets affixed to the casket base and hinged lid componentsand positioned adjacent to the closure surfaces with a gasketliketapered seal of resilient, deformable material mounted on the closuresurface of the casket base. The. permanent magnets each extend slightlybeyond the planes of the rigid closure surfaces, such that a slight gapis maintained therebetween when the magnets engage each other,-

allowing the gasket to deformably flow within the gap to maintain aconstant seal without the use of conventional hardware 4 Claims, DrawingFigures lit The present invention is generally related to casketstructures and, more particularly, to casket structures of the sealingtype. In the past, various sealing casket constructions have beenprovided which required the use of expensive mechanical locking devicesfitted to the casket cover and side walls. These conventionalconstructions were not only unsightly in appearance, but significantlyincreased the manufacturing costs. In addition, it was also necessary toprovide breather mechanism to'selectively permit the flow of air to andfrom the casket interiors during air shipment. Such conventionalconstructions required expensive machining to assure a true seal, theless expensive forged constructions often providing inadequate seals.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel casketsealing construction which eliminates the need of conventional lockinghardware and breather mechanisms, yet requires a minimum number of partsand is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a versatilemagnetic casket sealing assembly including a plurality of permanentmagnets affixed to the casket base and cover components adjacent to theclosure surfaces to firmly maintain the cover in sealing relationshipwith the casket base.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a uniquecasket sealing construction including a tapered sealing gasket which isdeformably compressed between the closure surfaces of the lid and casketbase under the influence of a plurality of permanent magnets in positiveengagement with each other.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical casket construction with themagnetic sealing assembly of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of the cover and casket base closuresurfaces with a spacer inserted therebetween for breathing during airshipment, and the like.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view taken along section 3--3 as shown inFIG. I.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIG. 1, a typical casketconstruction is generally indicated by the numeral 1t) and includes arelatively rigid casket base 12 and a cover assembly comprised of a pairof lids l4 and 16 adapted to be fitted over the casket base. A pair ofhinges I8 and 26 may be provided for each lid for pivotal mounting tothe casket base. Each lid is provided with a substantially flat closuresurface 22 which is adapted to abut a tapered sealing gasket 24 when thelid is in the closed position, such as lid I6 as illustrated in FIG. I.Lid Id is also provided with a curved closure surface 26 which engages acorresponding tapered sealing gasket 28 on lid 16. Preferably, thehinges are positioned such that they do not interfere with compressionof sealing gasket 24 when the lids are in the closed posi tion.

Lids M and I6 are provided with permanent magnets 36 and 32,respectively, which are rigidly affixed thereto adjacent to theirrespective closure surfaces. Similarly, casket base 12 is provided witha pair of permanent magnets 34 and 36 mounted adjacent to the baseclosure surface 38 and positioned to engage magnets 30 and 32 located inthe lids. The poles of each permanent magnet are arranged such that themagnets are attracted toward each other to bring the lid closuresurfaces into sealing engagement with sealing gaskets 24 and 28.

Referring to FIG. 2 and 3, the mounting of the permanent magnets andtheir relationship to tapered gasket 24 can be seen in more detail. Itwill be appreciated that each permanent magnet is mounted such that itextends slightly beyond the plane of the corresponding closure surface.This arrangement assures that the oppositely disposed permanent magnetswill engage each other when the cover lids are in the fully closedposition, as shown in FIG. 3. It will also be noted that sealing gasket24 is tapered inwardly such that it is of decreased thickness at itsedge adjacent to permanent magnets 34 and 36, while maximum thickness isprovided along its outer perimeter. The gasket is made of a resilient,deformable material, such as synthetic rubber. Thus, as each lid isclosed, initial contact of closure surfaces 22 is made along the thickareas of the gasket. Continued lowering of the lid causes the gasket toflow inwardly to assume the position shown in FIG. 3.

The configuration and properties of the tapered gasket are such thatafter sufficient deformation and compression has been achieved, theoppositely disposed permanent magnets engage each other to assure thatthe maximum magnetic forces of attraction are present to maintain aconstant seal. Thus, by extending the per manent magnets beyond theclosure surfaces positive engagement between the magnets is assured aswell as suficient deformation of the tapered sealing gasket. While thepermanent magnets are shown as being permanently welded to the closureframeworks, adjustable mounting means may be provided where desirable toassure proper magnet positioning.

During air shipment, it has been necessary in the past to providebreather mechanisms for the conventional sealer casket constructions.This was to assure pressure equalization between the casket interior andthe surroundings, pressure changes due to changes in atmospheric andcabin pressures. Referring to FIG. 2, it will be appreciated that themagnetic field of strength of the permanent magnet is sufficient to holdthe lids snugly in place during air shipment by the insertion of aspacer block 46 between each lid and casket base to assure adequatebreathing. If desired, the spacing block may be inserted directlybetween the permanent magnets to achieve adequate spacing. Preferably,spacing block 40 is made of iron, or similar materials, with suitablemagnetic properties.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the magneticcasket sealing assembly of the present invention provides a relativelyinexpensive means of sealing the casket without the use of conventionalhardware mounted on its exterior surfaces. It is also apparent that thepresent invention eliminates the need for breather mechanisms requiredfor conventional sealer caskets. It should be noted that the magneticassembly may be utilized with caskets having covers different from thehinged covers shown in FIG. 1. Also, changes in the position or numberof permanent magnets, or in the configuration of the sealing gasket aredeemed to fall within the scope of the present invention.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A casket sealing assembly comprising a casket base with a firstsubstantially planar, horizontal closure surface, a casket coverhingedly connected to said base and with a second substantially planar,horizontal closure surface overlying said first closure surface when inthe closed position, a first magnetic member attached to said casketbase and disposed laterally of said first closure surface, a secondmagnetic member attached to said casket cover disposed laterally of saidsecond closure surface and overlying said first magnetic member whensaid cover is in the closed position, and deformable sealing meansattached to one of said closure surfaces for maintaining a seal betweensaid first and second closure surfaces under the influence of saidmagnetic members, each of said magnetic members protruding verticallybeyond the horizontal plane of the corresponding closure surface, saidmagnetic members postively engaging each other when said cover is in theclosed position with said sealing means being deformed under theinfluence of said magnetic members, at least one of said magneticmembers comprising a permanent magnet, said deformable sealing meansincluding a resilient, deformable strip of material which is normallyshaped to include areas of greater and lesser thickness which aredeformed to substantially the same thickness under the influence of saidpermanent magnets when said cover is in the closed position.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient, deformablestrip is substantially flattened by said planar closure surfaces underthe influence of said magnetic members to a thickness substantiallyequal to the composite vertical distances by which said permanentmagnets each protrude beyond their respective closure surfaces.

3. The structure set forth in claim 1 together with a spacing blockinserted between said closure surfaces to provide a breathing spacebetween said casket cover and said casket base.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said spacing block is ofmagnetic material and is inserted directly between said magnetic membersto provide a path of magnetic flux therebetween sufficient to maintainsaid casket cover in position and at the same time to provide abreathing space between said closure surfaces.

1. A casket sealing assembly comprising a casket base with a firstsubstantially planar, horizontal closure surface, a casket coverhingedly connected to said base and with a second substantially planar,horizontal closure surface overlying said first closure surface when inthe closed position, a first magnetic member attached to said casketbase and disposed laterally of said first closure surface, a secondmagnetic member attached to said casket cover disposed laterally of saidsecond closure surface and overlying said first magnetic member whensaid cover is in the closed position, and deformable sealing meansattached to one of said closure surfaces for maintaining a seal betweensaid first and second closure surfaces under the influence of saidmagnetic members, each of said magnetic members protruding verticallybeyond the horizontal plane of the corresponding closure surface, saidmagnetic members postively engaging each other when said cover is in theclosed position with said sealing means being deformed under theinfluence of said magnetic members, at least one of said magneticmembers comprising a permanent magnet, said deformable sealing meansincluding a resilient, deformable strip of material which is normallyshaped to include areas of greater and lesser thickness which aredeformed to substantially the same thickness under the influence of saidpermanent magnets when said cover is in the closed position.
 2. Thestructure set forth in claim 1 wherein said resilient, deformable stripis substantially flattened by said planar closure surfaces under theinfluence of said magnetic members to a thickness substantially equal tothe composite vertical distances by which said permanent magnets eachprotrude beyond their respective closure surfaces.
 3. The structure setforth in claim 1 together with a spacing block inserted between saidclosure surfaces to provide a breathing space between said casket coverand said casket base.
 4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein saidspacing block is of magnetic material and is inserted directly betweensaid magnetic members to provide a path of magnetic flux therebetweensufficient to maintain said casket cover in position and at the sametime to provide a breathing space between said closure surfaces.